when you went head-to-head with obama in 2008, the polls said 51% obama, 38% mccain. do you think you would have done better against the obama that was debating this week? >> i think so, piers, but you know, it would sound like i am now trying to rewrite history or i would have done better. you know, i never tried to do any of that looking back and certainly not in anger or bitterness. but i think it is true that during the 2008 campaign, the president or then senator obama had no record to defend, and one of the reasons why mitt did so well in this debate was because mitt was -- i think very legitimately, attacking his record, whether it be the $90 billion in subsidies for energy or a number of the other things that he pointed -- the failure of dodd-frank, and so the president had a record to defend this time, but one, do not underestimate the president of the united states. he will come back strong. i think mitt has to be prepared for that. and also, as you mentioned, these job numbers will give him a bit or something of a bot today. >> we've got the vp debate comin